Winter Birds at Frensham Great Pond (leased to and managed by Waverley Borough Council)

Leaders: Paul Nevett and Andy Swan (HNHS members)

On a lovely sunny morning at Frensham Great Pond, enjoyed by 12 Members, 40 bird species were recorded. Highlights were a group of showy Crossbills near the car park, a number of vocal Water Rails around the reedbeds, 2 Kingfishers, and a flock of c 50 Redwings moving through the holly at the outlet pond. A group of Pochard was the most notable species on the water.

From an ornithology point of view, probably the most notable feature was large movements of Woodpigeons over. We didn’t count, but there were certainly well over a thousand birds. At this time of year (usually 1st or 2nd week of November), Woodpigeon are a common sight migrating in large numbers (often heading south towards Iberia). Unlike many birds they are diurnal (daytime) migrants, which combined with their stocky size, makes them easy to observe.

Remarkably for the time of year, there were several pairs of Common Darter dragonflies mating and laying eggs on the outlet pond, which was sheltered and bathed in sunshine. Another notable insect was the fly Phytomyza lappae, the larvae of which had made distinctive leaf mines in a burdock leaf. This fly does not seem to have been recorded in the area before. The attractive Magpie Inkcap was also found near the outlet pond: this species is normally associated with beech woods on chalk, but we have seen it in other settings locally this year.